Belgium will grant EUR60 million ($86.2 million) for Vietnam in 2011-2015 under a new co-operation agreement signed in the capital city of Hanoi yesterday [Jun 22], state media reported June 23. The agreement was signed by the Vietnamese Deputy of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh and the Kingdom of Belgium's Directorate General for Development Peter Moors. The fund is expected to be mainly used to improve sectors of water and sanitation and governance in Vietnam.
“The co-operation program is entirely consistent with the country's Socio-economic Development Plan 2011-2015 which is expected to be approved in September this year”, Sinh said.
While poverty reduction remained the program's core goal, it was also scheduled to support Vietnam to cope with climate change impacts, lack of skilled human resources, developing green-based economy and gender disparities, he said. About $43 million will be allocated to water and sanitation to cope with and reduce climate change impacts in three central provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Ha Tinh. Moors said that the program will spend about $17 million to cover interventions in the governance sectors. Belgium had tripled the funding of its scholarship program to EUR12 million ($17 million) to help Vietnam solve the lack of qualified human resources, he said. On the same day, the first Joint Commission on Economic Co-operation between the two countries was also held in Hanoi.
Belgium and Vietnam discussed space technology, dredging, waste and water management, the health sector as well as food safety issues. Belgian Prime Minister Leterme said: “In the long term I hope Viet Nam will become the primary and privileged economic partner of Belgium in Asia.” The next Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation will be held in Brussels in the autumn of 2012. (Nhan dan – The People Jun 23 p2, Kinh te Vietnam & The gioi – Vietnam & World Economy Jun 23 p1, Vietnam News Jun 23)
